Troy Tulowitzki of the Colorado Rockies celebrates his home run against the New York Mets with the bat boy during the seventh inning at Citi Field in New York, Thursday, April 14, 2011. The Rockies defeated the Mets, 6-5, in the first game of a doubleheader.

NEW YORK — Maybe it’s just a coincidence, an early-season anomaly, but it is interesting the Rockies threw the Mets for a loop on the first trip that Colorado has used a curveball machine during batting practice.

“It helps lock you into a good swing,” outfielder Ryan Spilborghs said.

The machine is the brainchild of new hitting instructor Carney Lansford. He felt it could help narrow some of the Rockies’ horrifying home-road splits a year after the Rockies batted a franchise-worst .226 in visiting parks.

Has it made an impact?

“Absolutely,” said Lansford of the Rockies, who are hitting .264 in seven road games with 11 home runs. “There’s no question about it.”

During Tuesday’s rain delay, a parade of Rockies stepped in against the machine in the indoor batting cage. Lansford fed the baseballs, wanting to keep a close eye on the swings.

The purpose is twofold: Let the players see game-type movement on a pitch, and teach them patience.

“I don’t want to say it’s the reason, but it definitely hasn’t hurt,” said shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who homered in every game of the sweep.

For Lansford, the machine reinforces principles he has preached since taking over for Don Baylor last October. He wants the hitters to work foul line to foul line. When the Rockies abandoned that approach in last Friday’s loss to the Pirates — they became pull-conscious — he let them know about it.

“What the machine forces you to do is let the ball travel and stay through the ball,” Lansford said. “I believe that creates good mechanics and more opposite-field hits.”

Reynolds out, Johnson in.

Wednesday’s doubleheader and Ubaldo Jimenez’s return Monday created roster movement. Greg Reynolds, who won for the first time since 2008 in Game 1, was optioned to Triple-A, with the Rockies promoting Alan Johnson. Johnson was available for relief duty in the second game, and is likely to spot start Sunday against the Cubs. Reynolds performed admirably while keeping the seat warm for Jimenez.

“For me, it means more this time around because of everything I have gone through to get back,” Reynolds said.

To create room on the 40-man roster, Aaron Cook was shifted to the 60-day disabled list. Cook, out first with a sore shoulder, then a broken finger, is throwing off the slope of the mound. He’s not expected to return to the big leagues until the first of June.

Footnotes.

The Mets were last swept at home on Sept. 2, 2004, by the Marlins. . . . Colorado trailed in all four wins against the Mets.